Wearing hoodies, GVSU students protest the death of Trayvon Martin (photos, video)

ALLENDALE, MI -- Wearing black hooded sweatshirts, about 30 students from Grand Valley State University gathered on campus Thursday morning to protest the death of Trayvon Martin.

The students, from an African American Studies class, posed for a picture in front of the Cook Carillon Tower at the university’s Allendale campus – an act they said is meant to highlight the unjust death of the Florida teen.

“We just wanted to raise awareness around Grand Rapids and in general about the injustice,” said Zach Whittle, a sophomore at GVSU who came up with the idea for posing for a picture wearing hoodies.

“We felt that something needed to be done,” he said, adding that he got the idea from the Miami Heat, who posed for a similar picture last month.

Martin, 17, was shot on Feb. 26 by a neighborhood watch volunteer in a gated Florida community. The volunteer was not arrested for firing a fatal shot at Martin, who was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, as he walked home from a nearby store.

The incident – and the subsequent investigation by police – has led to protests across the nation, including Grand Rapids. On Wednesday, about 60 community members and Grand Rapids Community College students marched through the city to draw attention to the issue.

Katelynn Hutchison, a 22-year-old psychology student at GVSU, said she and her classmates have talked about the need to break down stereotypes in the wake of Martin’s death.

“If I were to wear this sweatshirt, someone would say, ‘oh, that girl is just cold,’” Hutchison said of her hoodie. “If Trayvon wears one like this, he’s automatically considered suspicious.”

In addition to the demonstration by students in the African American Studies class, another rally was also planned for today at the Cook Clarion Tower.

The “Rally against Justice,” sponsored by GVSU’s chapter of the NAACP, is meant to draw awareness of Martin’s death and instances of injustice throughout history.

Rik Stevenson, who teaches the African American Studies class, said he thinks it’s important for his students to weigh in on current issues through social activism and other means.

“They’re not just here to get a degree, they’re here to change the world,” he said of his students. “If we don’t encourage them now to participate in social activism, who will?”